Sea Swim Fitness: Out to the buoy

The cavalry joined us again this morning so we had Hildi, Pete, Joan, Sara, Paul and Ollie getting ready and trying to ignore the stiff northerly breeze which has taken the somewhat tropical weather away. The sea looked lovely though, not giving away that it had dropped to 11 degs in temp.
Another thing caught our eye...there bobbing in the middle distance was a new buoy. All alone, we immediately set it as the target for the day, each guessing somewhere between 300 and 500 metres away. It was a there-and-back swim and on the way out the wind picked up off shore. the small buoy took some time to get to, and the four that went for it, Sara, Paul, hildi and Ollie, had to be a little wary of the East to West current that was blowing us off course. We all touched the buoy and headed back as a group making sure that we kept sighting frequently off the shore so as not to land on another beach. Joan and Pete managed widths ably, with Pete clocking five.
So anywhere between 600 and 900m swam in 11 degs, felt lovely and felt like we had accomplished our first proper swim. Rottingdean feels very possible now at these temps. Lets look at the next favourable tide and weather perhaps.
I didn't catch the time in and out, nevermind, it was more of a voyage thatn a time trial. Hildi made in back in with the suit turned down to get a feel of the water, no suit on Friday perhaps?
Final arrangements made for the wedding day swim not that we want to associate with the wedding (but thanks for the free day off)!

Time In: 7:11
Time Out: 7:34